Locomotive-type boiler



Oct. 4,1927. J 3 BROWN ET AL LOCOMOTIVE TYPE BOILER Filed April 13. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet l 5f u 1127.13 r0 wn a} m 56" J12 Kane WITNESSES: INVENTOR ATTORNEY 44,463 J. B. BROWN ET AL LOCQMOTIVE TYPE BOILER 5 Shaets-Sheet 2 Filed April 13. 1926 m'uiimliiil m J, flBrown [fafle INVENTOR BYM ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1927'.

J. B. BROWN El AL LOCOMOTIVE TYPE BOILER Filed April 13. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 J- Bliro wn Jllflfane INVENTOR ATTORNEY bct.

1927 J. 5. BROWN ET m.

LOCOMOTIVE TYPE BOILER Filed April 13. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 .llilfane,

INVENTOR BYEWW WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY Oct. 4 1927.

WITNESSES:

ATTOR N EY Patented Oct. 4,

tJNlTED STATES PATENT orrica.

JOHN B. BROWN AND JOHN P. KANE, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

LOCOMOTIVE -TYLPE BOILER.

Our inventionrelates to locomotive type boilers, more particularly to the tire boxes thereof, and has to r an object the provision a circulation of a the lower, colder large volume of water from portions of the tire box to the upper, hotter portions thereof.

Another object of our invention is to provide a water circulating element which shall be effective as a staying and supporting means for the fire box sheets.

Another object of our invention is to provide a water circulating element in a locomotive fire box which shall be rigidly se cured to the inner sheets thereof, together i with a system of staying and bracing whereby expansion and contraction oi the element and the fire box sheets may occur without danger of damage to said sheets or the element as a result thereof.

A further object of our invention is to provide a water circulating element in a locomotive fire box which shall be rigidly secured to the inner sheets thereof and to provide means etiecting a tween the element sheets.

flexible connection beand the outer fire box A still further object of our invention is to provide a watercirculating element so constructed as to have its lower part, where the greatest dange exists, readily accessible for inspection an cleaning.

r of collecting sediment Another object of our invention is to provide a means Where by a supply of water will be discharged upon the crown sheet in the event that the wate r in the boiler would fall to a dangerous level which without this device would result in serious damage to the crown sheet and probable .loss'of life.

These and other objects which will become apparent througho at this specification are accomplished by apparatus embodying features of our invention,

and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section type boiler having through a locomotive our improved water circulating element disposed therein;'Fig. is a plan viewof the back end of the boiler with the roof and cut away and showing two of our im part of thecrown sheet roved water circulating elements disposed t erein,

one of the elemen ts being shown in plan and the other in partial longitudinal section; Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional View through the the box showing one water circulating element disposed therein; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a plan view of an element removed from the' fire box; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the element; Fig. 7 is a l'ront end elevation of the element; Fig. 8 is a rear end elevation of the element; Fig. 9 is a detailed sectional view showing the con nection of the element to the throat sheet and the flue sheet of the tire box; Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing details of connection oi the element to the door sheet and back boiler head of the tire box; Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing an alternative method oi': connecting the element to the llue sheet and the throat sheet of the fire box; Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 10

showing an alternative method of connecting d view of a flexible stay bolt adapted for embetween the inner and outer sheets box around the connection of said sheets with the water circulating element and Fig. l8is a view showing a further modified form of attaching our improved water circulating element to the fire box sheets.

It is well recognized in the art to which our invention relates that a water circulating element in a locomotive fire box, adapt ed to effect a flow of water from the lower, colder parts thereof to the upper, hotter parts thereof, effects a decided im rovement in the steaming qualities of the iioile'r and a marked saving in fuel. Inasmuch as such apparatus is placed in the fire box directly over the hottest part of the fire itis subjected directly to the greater heat within the fire box and the greater variations in temperature of the fire box. Consequently it expands and contracts to a greater degree ployment than other parts of the fire box. Difliculties have accordingly been encountered in so designin the apparatus in its relation to the fire box that it may expand and contract without damage to the sheets or the element as a result thereof.

It the element be rigidly connected to the inner sheets of the fire box with no provision permitting movement of the inner sheets upon expansion of the element, the walls of the element would, of a necessity, be subjected to such strains as to cause damage thereto or to the sheets or both. On the other hand, where a flexible connection between the element and one or more oi the inner sheets of the fire box is employed, the area defined by the flexible connection is relatively small due to the necessity of staying the fiat surfaces surrounding the connection, and the small area imposes a short radius to the inward and outward'bend of the metal comprising the flexible connection, upon expansion and contraction of the element. The constant inward and outward bending of the firebox sheets with a rela tively small radius of bend at the point of juncture of the element, when'subjected to the varying temperature of the fire box, sometimes results in fatigue of the metal comprising the flexible connection and its consequent cracking and leaking.

It is therefore apparent that the ideal installation of a water circulating element is one where the element is rigidly connected 'ment and the fire box sheets.

to the inner sheets of the 'fire box, and that said sheets upon expansion and contraction of the element are free to move outwardly and inwardly with a relatively long radius of bending, thereby involving no danger of fatigue of the metal at the connection. In accordance with our invention we have provided a water circulating element opening into the spaces define-d by. the lower forward fire box sheets, the upper rear fire box sheet and the crown sheet and rigidly connected to all of said sheets. In order toallow for expansion and contraction of the element, a system of flexible staybolts which permit relative movement between the inner and outer sheets of the fire box over a relatively large area is interposed between the inner and outer sheets surrounding the connection to the element, and a system of staying is menace Fig. 1 at 10 a locomotive boiler having a fire box comprising a fine sheet 11,.acrown sheet 12, a door sheet 13 and side sheets 14, (see Fig. 3). Cooperating'with the lower part of the flue sheet 11 is a throat sheet 16 forming therewith a water space and cooperating with the door sheet 13 is a boiler head 17 forming therewith a water space. Over the crown sheet 12 is the roof of the boiler formed by an outer shell 18. As is well understood in the art, all cooperating inner and outer sheets are stayed by properly spaced stay bolts, shown diagrammatically at '1515. The 'door sheet and boiler head and flue sheet and throat sheet are spaced apart at the bottom and rigidly secured to a mud ring 19. It will'b'e apparent that in the construction shown, the lower part of the fire box forms a single combustion chamber.

Disposed within the fire box is one or more of our improved water circulating elementsshown in Fig.1 at 21. The water circulating.

said door sheet and the boiler head( The upper part of the body portion 23 is rigidly secured to the crown sheet 12 and opens into the space above the crown sheet.

A single water circulating element 21 may be disposed within the fire box as shown in .Fig. 3 or a plurality of elements may be installed in a firebox as shown in Fig. 2. With either arrangement the upper rear portion of the firebox is divided into a plurality of combustion chambers by the elementorelements. Whether arranged in the fire box singly or associated with other elements,

each of said elements is preferably constructed as shown in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive.

Essentially, each element is formed by foldingover sheet metal from the bottom upwardly, when viewed in position for service, so as to form the neck portion 22 open at the end and the body portion 23 open interposed between the element and the outer \at the top and rear. The area defined by sheets for permitting of relative movement between the element and said outer sheets. In addition thereto we have provided water circulating'spaces having such an area asto insurethe constant entry, in service, of large volumes of relatively cold water, thereby minimizing the likelihood ofany great diderence-s in temperature between the ele- Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of our invention we show in the opening in the top portion 'is' made greater than the area-of the front and rear openings combined in order to secure a better distribution of water over the crown sheet in service. The area of the opening in the neck. portion 22 and the rear of the body portion 23 are made of such size as to insuretheentry, when in service, of relatively large volumes of relatively cold water into the element and thus tend to -rnaintain it at approximately the same temperature as the sura example by forward end thereof an rounding fire box sheets. This construction greatly minimizes the liability of excessive relative expansion of the element and the fire box sheets and makes it more of a unitin so far as changes in temperature are concorned.

The bottom fold forms a straight, rounded trough-like portion 26 adapted toextend longitudinally of the fire box and inclined downwardly from the door sheet to the front flue sheet. The advantage of having a straight trough-like portion as described is that it forms a rigid girder structure, to be i more particularly described later, and adapts the element to be readily inspected from its end portions and to be readily cleaned, from both ends, of any sediment or scale which may be disposed therein. Inasmuch as the el'einentis at all times directly subjected to the hottest part of the fire the importance of keeping it free from scale and precipitated matter is obvious.

The sheet metal, as before described, is folded over forming the trough-like portion 26 and two spaced walls 27 and 28 extending from front to rear of the element, including the neck portion 22. The walls 27 and converge upwardly from the bottom trough-like portion so as to form an opening at the top, narrower than the bottom troughlike portion, where it is adapted to be joined to the crown sheet. The reason for this construction is that as the water in the element is subjected to heat, steam bubbles formed therein tend to move directly upward leaving the exposed sheet more or less bare. By converging the wall upwardly the water in its upward circulation is caused to flow directly in contact withthe sheets 27 and 28 preventing any possible damage due to overheating and improving their possibilities as heat transfer mediums. The spaced walls of the element 27 and 28 are stayed together by a plurality of stay bolts 303(1 in a man.- ner well understood in the art.

Toward the front of the element the walls 27 and28 are folded together and joined, for autogenous welding, as alon I the line 25, so that'the body portion 23 o the element does not'extend the entire length of the fire box but leaves a space between the d t e upper part of the back flue sheet. The neck portion 22 of the element is formed by foldin over the sheets as described for the forwar body por ion and joining the edges together as shown at 31 in Fig. 5. In forming the sides of the body portion and the neck portion a corrugation 35 adapted to support a brick arch (indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4) is formed thereon, said corrugation extending rearwardly along the neckportion and body portion the distance required to support said arch. As shown in Figs. 5 to'8inclusiv'e, the upper portions of the side walls 27 and 28 may be flanged outwardly as shown at 32 and 33 in order to be joined to suitably formed edges of the opening in the crown sheet. Obviously this construction could readily be reversed and the opening in the crown sheet flanged downwardly to be joined to straight walls on the element. Such a construction is shown in Figure 4 at 34 where the crown sheet is flanged downwardly and the upper walls of the body portion of the element are joined thereto by autogenous welding. By this method of construction the line of weld is placed below the possible low water level of the boiler, in the event of low water, and is thus free from the danger of overheating and failure which may occur.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4 the neck portion 22 of the water circulating element and the body portion 23 are similarly joined to the inner fire box sheets. The lower flue sheet is flanged inwardly of the fire box to meet the sheets of the element as at 36 and the two are joined together by autogenous welding. The rear door sheet is likewise flanged and joined to the rear portion of the element 23 by autogenous welding as shown at 37.

Referring now to Fig. 9, we show a plurality of braces 38-38 secured rigidly to the inside sheets of theneek portion 22 of the element, preferably by riveting, and extending outwardly of the element. The outer end of each of the braces 38-38, is provided with an elongated hole 39, see Fig. 16. Rigidly secured to the throat sheet 16 1s a pair of T irons, 41-41 (see Fig. 13,) said T irons having holes therein cooperating with the holes 39 of the braces 38--38. Inserted in each of the holes 39 is a pin 43 connecting the T iron to a brace 38. The ends of each of the braces 38-38 wherein the holes 39 are formed are forked as shown in Figs. 15 and 16 and straddle the cooperatingv T irons 41. The part of the brace 38 which is attached to the inner sheet of the element is provided with bosses 44-44 bearing against the inner part of the sheet in order to have as little contact as possible with said sheet and not endanger itsbecoming over-heated due to too large an area having a metal to metal contact.

A similar system of bracing is shown in Fig..10 where the element is connected to the upper part of the door sheet and the boiler head. At this end a scries of braces 46-46, similar in all essential details to the braces 38-38 already described, are connected to the inner sheets of the back end-of the element and to a system of T irons 47-47, (see Fig. 14). The T irons 41 and 47 are secured to the outer sheets'preferably by riveting so that a rigid connection therewith is maintained. The system of bracing just described carries the entire load due to pressure expansion and contraction of the the box so that the points of juncture between the element and the inner fire box sheets are not subjected to any strain because of said expansion and contraction but are merely employed for tightness.

Provided in the throat sheet 16 opposite the neck portion 22 of the element are two holes 48l8 in which are inserted Wash out plugs 49 -49 thereby providing means for inspecting the element from the exterior and for cleaning. Similarly there is provided in the boiler head 17 a plurality of holes 51-51 having wash out plugs 52'"2 inserted therein. By this arrangen'ient, in cooperation with the straight trough like portion 26 of the element, a ready means for inspection and. cleaning the element is provided.

From the construction so far described it will become apparent that should expansion and contraction of the element 21 occur relative to the fire box sheets due to the varying temperature in the fire box, the effect of such contraction and expansion is transmitted directly to the inner sheets of the fire box principally to the lower part of the flue sheet and the upper part of the door sheet. It therefore follows that some provision should be made for permitting inward and outward movement of said sheets upon said expansion and contraction in order to avoid damage to said sheets, or to the element, or

to both. Inv order to accomplish this result we provide a plurality of flexible stay bolts 53-53 between the inner and outer sheets in the area surrounding the connection of the element to the flue sheet and door sheet. The area preferably embraced by said flexible staying is indicated in Figs. 13 and 14:.

111 the example shown it is approximately equal to the square of one third of the distance horizontally across the door sheet at the rear and the flue sheet at the front. In any instance it should be sufficient to provide a sufliciently long radius of bend to the element to prevent damage to the fire box sheets in event they should be caused" to bend inwardly and outwardly. A well known type of flexible stay bolt 53wh1ch is especially adapted for the purposes described is shown in Fig. 17 and comprises a rounded head 54, a body portion 56 and an end 57.

'The end of the bolt extends through the inner fire box sheets and is riveted over as shown at 60. The rounded head 54 of the bolt 53 is seated in a member 58 which is [tight fit. A cap member 59 is provided and screwed over the top of the seat member 58 in a fluid tight manner and thus prevents outward leakage. The cap member 59-has clearance with respect to the rounded head 54 of the bolt so. that a relative movement therebetween is permitted.

It will thus be seen that upon expansion of amines the element 21 due to a comparative increase in temperature over the other sheets of the fire box, the force of the expansion is transmitted to the inner sheets of the fire box and the elongated holes in the braces 38-38 and ift-46 permit a slight relative movement between said braces and the outer sheets of the fire box. At the same time the flexible stay bolts 5353 permit adjustment of the consequent change in relative position of the inner and outer fire box sheets, and distributes such change of relative position over a relatively Wide area. The inward and outward bending of the inner and outer fire box sheets, effected by the contraction and the expansion of the element, thus occurs over a relatively long radius of bend so as not to endanger the metal in said sheets.

WVhile we have shown the element connected to the inner fire box sheets by flanging said sheets inwardly and joining the element to said flanged portions by a butt autogenous weld, other methods of joining them together may be employed with equal success. For example in Fig. 11 we show the end of the neck portion 22 of the element inserted in a hole formed in the flue sheet 11 and having its end flanged over slightly as shown at- 61 and welded both on the inside and-outside of the flue sheet 11. This systern of attaching the element to. the flue sheet permits the use of flexible-stay bolts closer to a prolongation of the outer sheets of the element. Similarly,'we show in Fig. 12, a method of securing the rear end of the element to the door sheet 13. In this connection the rear of the element is turned over as at 62 and is welded on the inner and outer side.

In Fig. 18 we show yet another method of securing our improved water-circulating element to the inner fire box sheets. In accordance with this method the inner sheet, for example, a flue sheet 70, is flanged inwardly of the fire box as at 71. In making the flange, the sheet is bent toward its cooperating sheet as at 72. The flanged portion 71 is then welded to the element 21 as along the line 73. This method of securing the element to the inner fire box sheets provides some degree of flexibility aside from the flexlble stay bolt connections indicated at 74L-74: connecting the inner and outer sheets,

From the foregoing description the operation of apparatus made in accordance with our invention will be apparent. When subjected'to the heat of the 'fire, water within the element quickly rises and flows over the crown sheet 12, while colder water rises -through the neckportion 22 of the Water circulating element and also enters through the rear open body portion 23. This action insures a steady upward circulation of the water in large volumes through the element and up over the crown sheet 12. This action greatly improves the steaming qualities of.

the boiler due to the increased circulation in duced thereby.

In the meantime the upwardly converging walls of the element insure contact of the water with said walls, thus preventing their undue heating. Furthermorethe inlet areas of the element are designed of such size as to insure a large volume of relatively cool water entering therein at all times. This, in a large measure prevents the temperature of the element from rising greatly above the temperature of the surrounding fire box sheets and thus minimizes the expansion of said element relative to the fire box sheets. Minimizing the tendency of the element to expand relative to the fire box sheets greatly reduces the liability of damage due to excessiye relative expansion.

The construction of our improved water circulating element is such that its straight bottom portion 26 and upstanding sides 27 and 28 form a girder extending from end to end of the fire box which, with the systemof braces and staying employed, supports the inner and outer end sheets of the fire box. while the upwardly extending walls 27 and 28 of the element also support the crown sheet 12 and lend rigidity thereto. It is therefore apparent that our improved water circulating element, instead of presenting a liability of failure adds strength and reliability to the fire box. Such relative expansion and contraction as takes place between the element and the fire box is readily compensated for by the flexible system of staying and bracing emplo ed and the inward and outward bend of the sheets occurs over a relatively wide area.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that we have devised an improved water circulating elem nt for a locomotive fire box which is effective as a supporting means for the inner sheets of the fire box. which permits relative movement of the elementand the sheets upon contraction and expansion due to variations in tem erature without endangering the fire box sheets or the element, and which is effective to cause arapid circulation of the water from the lower, colder parts of the fire box to the upper, hotter parts thereof.

While we have shown our invention in sev-- eral forms. it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited. but" is susceptible of various other changes and modifications. without departing from the spirit thereof. and we desire. therefore. that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What we claim is v v 1. In a fire box for a locomotive type boiler, said fire box having inner sheets emdoor s eet w1th an outer shell embodying a throat sheet and a boiler head, said outer shell cooperating with the inner sheets to form water spaces. the combination of a hollow water circulating element disposed longitudinally of the fire box and inclined downwardly from rear to front thereof and connected to the crown sheet, the door sheet, and the flue sheet. and opening into the water spaces defined by all of said sheets, said water circulating element having spaced stayed walls. a plurality of staying means rigidly secured to the inner walls of the element at the front and rear and having elongated holes provided in their outer ends. a plurality of T irons rigidly secured to the outer sheets cooperating with the flue sheet and the door shee opposite the open ends of the element. means connecting the staying means to the T irons through the elongated holes. and means rigidly connecting the water circulating element to the crown sheet. the fine sheet and the door sheet.

2. In a fire box for a locomotive type boiler. said fire box having inner sheets embodyin a fine sheet. a' crown sheetand a door sheet wi h an outer shell embodying a throat sheet and a boiler head. said outer shell cooperating with the inner sbeets'to form water spaces. the combination of a rigid hollow water circulating element disposed lon itudin lly oftbo fi box a d inclined downwardly f om rear to front thereof and connec ed to the crown sheet. the door sheet and the fine sheet and opening into the water spaces defined b all of said sheets. said water circulating element having spaced stay d walls. a plurality of st ying means rigidly secured to the inner walls of the element at the front and remand having elongated holes rovided in their outer ends. a plurality of T irons rigidly secu ed to the outer heets cooperating with the flue heet and the door sheet opposite the noon ends of the element. means connecting the stayin means to the T irons through the elongated holes. means rigidly connecting the water circulating element to the crown sheet. the flue she t. and the door sheet. and a plurality of flexible stay bolts between the inner and outer sheets around the open ends of the element. said flexible stay bolts being'distrihuted over an area approximately equal to the souare of one third the distance horizontally across the throat sheet at the front and the boiler head extending from the rear forwardly the maior portion of the length of the tire box. a flue sheet having an elongated opening provided in the lower portion thereof, a door neck portion rigidly connected to the open-l ing in the flue sheet and an open body portion rigidly connected to the openings in the door sheet and the crown sheet, the areas of the openings in the flue sheet and the door sheet being such as to insure the entry of a relatively large volume of water into the element, and staying means between the element and the outer sheets cooperating with the flue sheet and the door sheet.

4t. In a fire box for a locomotive type boiler embodying a flue sheet, a door sheet and a crown sheet with cooperating outer sheets forming water and steam spaces, a thermic siphon element formed with flat, spaced side plates extending from end to end and joined together so as to form a ri id beam structure which is rigidly connecte to the door sheet, the flue sheet and the crown sheet and opens into the spaces ded by menace said sheets, and flexible anchoring means connecting the element to the outer sheets clooperating with the door sheet and the flue s ieet. v

5. In a fire box for a locomotive type boiler embodying a flue sheet, a door sheet and a crown sheet with cooperating outer sheets forming water and steam spaces, a thermic siphon element formed with flat, spaced'side plates extending from end to end and joined together so as to form a rigid beam structure which is rigidly connected to the door sheet, the flue sheet and the crown sheet and opens into the spaces defined by said sheets, and flexible means for connecting the element to the outer sheets cooperating with the door sheet and the flue sheet, said flexible means bein formed of relatively thin flat bars joine snugly to the side plates of the element so as to minimize impedance to water flow therethrough.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 13th day of March,

- J1HLN n. sown.

some a 

